POLLARD'S OPERA COMPANY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12565, 20 January 1903, Page 6

POLLARD'S OPERA COMPANY.

" THE MESSENGER BOY." The revival of "The Messenger Boy" by the Pollard Opera Company after the lapse of seven or eight months at- the Princess Theatre last evening attracted a large audience, many of whom had no doubt pleasurable recollections of its first production. " The Messenger Boy" contains more music and less spoken parts than is usually the case with the -works included in the repertoire of comic opera companies of the present day, and for this reason alone it is more acceptable to many than the class musical comedy (which is often a comcdy with a few songs introduced) so often met with Another reason why "The Messenger Boy" may be said to rank higher than many similar productions is thai, a great deal of the music Is of a.batter class. It is naturally all light in order that it may fit in with the humorous development of the situations in wnich the charaoters find themselves, and is well within the scope of the company. There is no part that is not well filled ( and m.some instances much stronger praise might be justly bestowed. The work abounds with humour of a fairly solid kind, and Messrs Quealy and Percy turn every opportunity in this direction to the best possible account. I.ike all the productions by the Pollard Opera Company, "The Messenger Boy" is very weil, end even elaborately, placed upon the stage, the scenery, costumes, ancl mounting generally leaving no room for adverse comment. Prom the perfect familiarity duplaycd by bath principals and chorus with an they have to do. it- is evident that, added to careful rehearsal, Ihey have, by frequent production, made it pretty well impracticable lor anything in the nature of hitch or hesitation to mar tlie briskness, freshness, and lively tour that pervades the whole work. Prom the rise of the curtain and the opening chorus to toe. closing scene, in which is reintroduced some of the more familiar and taking airs of the work, such a thing as hesitancy, even foi a moment, is entirely absent. A good deal of work falls to Mr Percy as tho Messenger Boy, Tommy Bang, a remarkably cute youth who faithfully carries out his instructions as to tho delivery of a certain letter, but not without much ncivonture, and misadventure. Mr PeTcy sang . the Messenger Boy's song in the first act with great effect, and had to comply with (ho audience's desire for an additional vQrse. It is in his acting, however, that Mr Percy's strong point lies. Gifted with a keen eye for turning to advantage any and every opportunity of introducing humour into the "part, as the messenger boy he has ample opportunity for displaying this natural talent, and consequently keeps his audience in a highly amused state all through the evening. Mr Quealy has also a port congenial to him as Captain Pott, ftiul nit a off Mi© oliofflctor of tho American seafaring blow-hard with remarkable skill and nudity. It is Dart that might ba very luuch overdone, but Mr Quealy avoids falling into that error. "They're oil afteri Pott," about. the most familiar air in " The Messengei Bov," was capitally sung, and the last verse had to be repeated. Mr Quealy is a very clever dancer and, like Mr Fercv, is remarkably quick and light 011 Ills feet. In the course of the evening he is twice called upon to do step-dancing and ill each- caw did not fail to win applause, which ended in the usual redemand Miss Bnltel played the part ot Nora with considerable success, her singing being much appreciated, and Miss Campion made a vivacious lady s maid. Miss Alice Edgar made quite a hit a? Tommy's mother, a lady from Brixton with n. decidedly London " turn of' tongue" She was particularly successful in the «on?« she song, meeting with Hits reception of the evening for her very clever singing of " It all comes out in the wash. Mr O'Connor was not severely laxed as Clive Randor, but sang his song; "The roilitarv man." so v-ell as to "meetwith o heartv recall. Messrs Young (as the Gorman Professor) and Stephens (in the naK of a French Count thirsting for revenge) both contributed to the humour of the evening, and the othor characters, none of which were urnminsnt. were filled hy Miss Wilson, Miss Pollnrd (w'"> « T a« very successful in the song she pings). M-- liilsto-.. Mr O'Snllivan, Mr Carter, Mr Vanghtin, and Mr Albert. ' The Messenger Boy" will be repeated this evening.